“2024 was a pivotal year for ASC as we brought feed to the forefront of responsible aquaculture,” said ASC Chief Technical Officer Ally Dingwall.
Image: Aquaculture Stewardship Council
It's a significant moment for the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, with the release of its annual impact report detailing progress made during 2024, coinciding with a major change in its compliance rules as its new Feed Standard comes into effect.
From now on, all ASC-certified farms must now use only feed certified under the organisation's Feed Standard, after the extended transition period for producers to make the switch to ASC-compliant feed ended in October. As the deadline for the transition to ASC-certified feed approached, a wave of feed manufacturers have secured certification for individual feed mills, with BioMar, Alltech and Skretting among them.
The move marks what the ASC describes as a major milestone in its drive to ensure responsibility “from feed to farm,” extending sustainability and traceability throughout the entire aquaculture supply chain.
The change comes as ASC reports another year of global growth and progress in its 2024 Impacts Report, with 2,265 certified farms operating across 52 countries - a 10% increase year-on-year - and 28,426 ASC-labelled products available to consumers, up 12% from 2023.
According to ASC, these certified farms delivered 3,981 environmental and 3,250 social improvements last year. Meanwhile, ASC-certified seafood sales reached 2.69 million metric tonnes, representing a 32% increase from the previous year.
Feed certification also progressed rapidly in 2024, the organisation says, with 22 feed mills certified across nine countries and 24 more in assessment, supplying responsible feed for seven species groups. The Council’s 14 active Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs), covering 139 sites, also continued to support farms on their path toward certification.
“2024 was a pivotal year for ASC as we brought feed to the forefront of responsible aquaculture,” said ASC Chief Technical Officer Ally Dingwall.
“With the ASC Feed Standard in its first full year of adoption, we saw commitment across the value chain - from feed mills to retailers - driving meaningful change far beyond the farm gates.”
Dingwall added that ASC-certified sites also made measurable progress in biodiversity protection, climate action, fish health and welfare, and community well-being.
As ASC marks its 15th anniversary this year, it has also launched its Farm Standard, uniting 11 species-specific standards into a single, comprehensive framework.
According to the organisation, the new standard strengthens consistency and drives continuous improvement across the sector, and is built around four core principles: legal compliance and business management, environmental stewardship, human rights promotion, and responsible animal health and welfare.
To ensure a smooth transition, ASC has introduced a two-year adjustment period before the Farm Standard becomes mandatory in May 2027.
Looking ahead, ASC says it will continue to support producers with enhanced tools, training and collaboration across the value chain, while expanding global awareness and demand for responsibly farmed seafood.
The full 2024 Impacts Report is available on the ASC website.